One more chapter! Thank you all for reading about Erik and Corinna!

Noir57

Erik had not expected to see such sorrow in Corinna's eyes. He could see the unspoken words in her dark gaze, feel her emotions pulsing through her veins as they stood before one another, on the brink of their lives together.

Her words were unmistakable.

You promised me.

In her presence he hadn't thought much of his mask. It had taken several days to adjust to walking about without it. He was used to donning it from the moment he woke until he finally retired for the day. Even though no one saw him, he felt more secure when he wore his mask. It prevented him from glancing in the mirror and seeing how hideous he had become.

Somehow Corinna didn't seem to notice the scars. She saw what he was inside, and that was a man he had long since forgotten. Each time she looked in his eyes he saw another fragment of himself that had been misplaced by time and solitude.

When he lay beside her in bed with one hand over her hardened belly he wondered where the years had gone. It was the first time he had considered how many years had passed.

While he nuzzled her neck, she placed her hand over the scars and caressed him gently. Her acceptance made him shiver. Even after months together Erik still found himself mesmerized by her caress. He wasn't sure how he had lived so long without any form of human contact, but he realized how miserable he had truly been beneath the opera house. Music had been his life and would always be integrated into his day, but he loved Corinna more than he loved composing or playing.

It was then, in the peaceful hours of night, that he knew what he had to do.

"May we begin?" the priest asked.

Erik glanced from the old man to Corinna, who looked as though she was close to tears. She nodded quickly and stared at their joined hands, uncertainty filling her gaze.

"I believe this man has a few words for this woman," the priest continued as he took a step back.

Corinna looked bewildered as she gazed into Erik's eyes.

"What are you doing?" she asked under her breath.

"Trust me," he said in her ear as he lifted her veil.

Her bottom lip trembled, but she nodded and allowed him to continue.

"You have no idea," Erik said quietly as he drew Corinna's hands to his lips. "And you will never know what darkness I have seen. Last night, when there were clouds before the moon and the curtains were drawn, I could barely see you in the night, but it wasn't dark to me. When you are with me it is never dark."

He kissed her trembling hands again, running his chin over her knuckles. "For a very long time—too long, I think, darkness wasn't lack of light. It was being alone, and before I saw you again I knew I would die alone in the opera house vaults or on the streets. No one would ever know that I had lived because I was nothing more than a mask."

Corinna brought his hands to her lips and kissed his fingers where her tears fell. A sob escaped as she squeezed his hand tightly.

Erik paused to wipe her tears away.

"All I could think of last night was how it feels when I'm with you. When I look at you, when I feel you beside me I realize how much of me had been missing. It sounds ridiculous," he said as he shook his head, "but it's true."

Corinna bit her lip as she reached up and touched the left side of his face. She was pleading with him to remove the mask, begging him to reveal himself to her. More than anything she wanted to see his face, the face of the man she had fallen in love with.

Erik smiled weakly, refusing her a moment longer. "When I saw you walk into this room today I knew I would feel nothing but elation for the rest of my life," he said, withdrawing his right hand from her grasp. "This is our home, and today I want nothing more than to start my life with you." He paused to smooth away another tear. "You make me feel like I belong somewhere. It's been a long time since I've felt that way…I don't know if I've ever felt that way, Corinna."

She nodded, unable to keep from crying at his words.

He turned away slightly and placed his hand over the right side of his face. "I love you, Corinna," he continued as he faced her again. "For being my closest friend and for becoming my wife today."

Corinna smiled through the tears streaming down her face as Erik removed his mask and placed it on the desk that had been shoved against the wall. The moment he faced her again she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek.

"I love you too, Erik. More than anything," she whispered into his ear.

The priest cleared his throat, drawing their attention to him. "May we continue?"

They both nodded, and with Ursula and her husband looking on, the priest began the wedding ceremony.

-o-

The ceremony passed in a blur of shy smiles and soft chuckles as Erik and Corinna repeated the priest's words. Corinna thought she would die from happiness as Erik slid her mother's ring onto her finger and promised her a lifetime of love and fidelity. She couldn't imagine a more blissful moment, but then the priest told Erik to kiss his bride.

Ursula couldn't help but applaud as Erik lifted Corinna from her feet and kissed her full on the lips. The newlyweds smiled at one another, softly kissing again before they faced their guests for the first time as husband and wife.

"I'm so happy for both of you," Ursula said as her husband shook Erik's hand. It was the first time they had met, but Corinna overheard Ursula's husband, Suraji, tell Erik that he felt like he knew him since he had heard so much from his wife.

"Good things, I hope," Erik replied nervously.

"Good things," Suraji replied. "And my Ursula promises that there is still hope for me to master the piano."

The men spoke briefly while Ursula straightened Corinna's dress.

"We'll be in the dining room," Ursula said. "Before these two forget that we're here for your wedding, not music lessons."

Ursula hugged Erik and kissed Corinna before she and Suraji left the parlor for the dining room. Once they were left alone, the reality of the day set in and Corinna stood speechless.

"Do you need to sit down?" Erik asked as he placed the back of his hand to her forehead.

"No, I'm feeling fine. It's just…"

"What? What is it?" he asked, his concern evident in his tone.

"We're married," Corinna whispered as she squeezed Erik tighter. She stood on the tips of her toes and kissed his earlobe. "We're really married."

Erik smiled down at her, amused by her mirth. "My beautiful wife," he said as he caressed her cheek. "My beautiful, sweet wife."

She rested her head against his chest and sighed, savoring their moment alone. "Madame Erik Levesque. I do love the sound of that, don't you?"

As he took her by the hand, Erik kissed Corinna again. He glanced at her ring finger and couldn't help but kiss her again. "I like the sound of being with you forever, Madame Levesque," he said in her ear.

They joined their guests in the dining room and enjoyed a quiet supper by candlelight.

Though Suraji wanted to join Erik in the parlor for an after-dinner drink, Ursula shook her head.

"Another time," Ursula said to Suraji as Erik and Corinna led them to the front door. She hugged Corinna one last time. "We will have your gift sent tomorrow."

"You shouldn't have," Corinna replied.

Ursula cocked her head to the side. "No more from you. I'll tell your husband to discipline you, my dear."

They shared a laugh before Ursula and Suraji said their goodbyes. They wished the new couple good luck and walked into the courtyard where they entered their waiting carriage.

"You look beautiful," Erik said as they stood in the foyer.

"This dress is not as comfortable as it is beautiful," Corinna said as she slid her fingers beneath his cravat and undid the top button.

Erik stepped back and looked her up and down.

"What are you doing?" Corinna questioned.

Erik shook his head and smiled. "Enjoying my wife," he replied.

A devilish twinkle entered Corinna's dark eyes. "I think you should take your wife to bed now," she murmured as she grabbed his hand and led him up the stairs.